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Something Special: Niamh Crowther - Shred Kelly - Little Red Lung

Background - Following 130,000 streams on Spotify and play-listing on national radio in Ireland, Niamh Crowther releases her single 'Little by Little' on October 23rd.

Niamh came to prominence in Ireland aged sixteen when she beat over 15,000 other young people to claim the prestigious Irish Youth Music Awards. The judging panel included Willie Kavanagh (then head of EMI), Jackie Hayden (founder of Hotpress magazine and the exec who signed U2 to their first record deal) and Will Ryan (Hozier). The accompanying rave reviews and talk about town earned her “one to watch” accolades from Hotpress, and on her eighteenth birthday Niamh found herself on stage with Richie Sambora.

Following the completion of her Leaving Certificate (A Levels), Niamh set about recording in Windmill Lane with some help from Tim Martin (The Corrs, The Commitments, Declan O’Rourke), resulting in the well-received 'Origins' and forthcoming single 'Little by Little' which has already been play listed on both RTE Radio 1 and RTE 2XM, selected as single of the week by multiple media outlets and featured across 32 radio stations across Ireland.

This is a wonderful song, that demonstrates the vocal qualities of Niamh, and just how good she can sound, especially when matched by a superb musical accompaniment. Website (here).

Background - Canadian folk rock heroes Shred Kelly have released (in America) their new single, “Sing to the Night.” Thanks in large part to their dynamic, high-energy, and engaging live show, Shred Kelly have crafted their own sound, called “stoke folk.” Their most recent full-length, Sing to the Night, was named one of the Top 15 Most Anticipated Albums of 2015 by CBC Music. They recently won Album of the Year and Best Live Act at the 2015 Kootenay Music Awards and are currently nominated for a 2015 West Coast Music Award for Best Music Video for “Sing to the Night.” Sing to the Night will be released in the U.S. on November 13.

According to Exclaim Magazine, “Sing to the Night is a huge step forward for this young group.” Through their individual backgrounds, Tim Newton, Sage McBride, Jordan Vlasschaert, Ian Page-Shiner, and Ty West have amplified the traditional sound of folk music with a more contemporary approach. Their reputation as a captivating live band has earned Shred Kelly sold-out shows across Canada, performances at some of the Canada’s premier festivals, and placement upon a growing list of awards and recognition.

Shred Kelly’s third album, Sing To The Night, features their signature claw-hammer banjo riffs, layered ambient synth, powerhouse rock, and lush vocal harmonies. Their acclaimed producer John Critchley (Elliott Brood, Amelia Curran, The Once) from Green Door Studios was a master at creating an album that pushed their creativity and gave Shred Kelly a new take on their signature sound. It is this “stoke folk” sound that has translated just as well on albums as it does on packed dance floors.

High energy folk? More like barnstorming folk, or as the band say 'stoke folk'. Now this is refreshingly good music, brimming with positives. Website (here).

Background - Los Angeles' Little Red Lung originated as a solo project of singer/keyboardist Zoe-Ruth Erwin, whose pure, bellowing vocals have been compared to the likes of Florence Welch, Stevie Nicks and Grace Slick. She quickly brought on board three creative veterans of the local indie music scene: guitarist Ali Nikou, bassist Rob Hume, and drummer John Broeckel, whose unique influences spanning the psychedelic troughs of Hendrix, the urgency of the 80's post-punk movement, and the fierceness of the early Seattle rock scene, cultivated Little Red Lung’s distinctive voice. Little Red Lung's debut LP "Beware" promises to be a bold and uninhibited follow up to their acclaimed EP, stretching the boundaries of their unique multi-dimensional sound. Starting back in May 2015, Little Red Lung began releasing one song per month via iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and their official website. The full album will also be available on limited edition 40G Vinyl.

'Porcupine Street' is the first album track. It immediately suggests there is some real mileage in the promo description. This is a band happy to try out, and share musical ideas, both vocally and musically. If you like the featured track, the album will fascinate you. Website (here).